House of the Dragon - Game of Thrones prequel

[footle]

It's probably a good bet that everyone is fucked at some point. It doesn't really matter what the book (which I haven't read) says.

 

Spoiler

Crab Man - someone was upset that there wasn't some kind of magic threat? That opening scene was pretty grim.

 

Dragons - an unwillingness to ever commit a dragonrider, because you have limited dragons and they're all of your blood, makes a certain amount of sense if you want scenes featuring men with swords running towards battle.

 

Standoffs - I liked the bridge. Smith is playing Daemon as shit well underneath that ridiculous wig.

 

[Festoon]

1 hour ago, footle said:

They've not bothered with new title music then.

 

Reads as utter desperation to retaon GoT fans. Terrible.

[Steve McQueef]

Imagine a Game of Thrones TV series using the iconic and recognisable Game of Thrones theme...

 

 

 

 

[Gotters]

Matt Smith looks like Erling Haaland.

 

I enjoyed that, I liked the confidence in building the story/world and the conflicts. I was worried they’d feel the need to have big moments early on as that was what people talk about but it’s quite assured.

[Festoon]

4 minutes ago, Steve McQueef said:

Imagine a Game of Thrones TV series using the iconic and recognisable Game of Thrones theme...

 

 

 

 

 

Imagine doing this after Better Call Saul showed how it can be done.

[scottcr]

Enjoying this much. Loved the re-use of the theme tune too. Gave me the goosebumps.

[FishyFish]

What did all the devices signify in the title sequence? I thought they might be house sigils, but apart from one that looked like the Hand’s pin, one with three interlinked rings (that I didn’t recognise), and the Targaryen dragon sigil, they were somewhat indistinct.

 

Its not as apparent a title sequence as GoT’s.

[Festoon]

Just now, FishyFish said:

What did all the devices signify in the title sequence? I thought they might be house sigils, but apart from one with three interlinked rings, and the Targaryen dragon sigil, they were somewhat indistinct.

 

Its not as apparent a title sequence as GoT’s.

 

Because it doesn't make any sense.

[footle]

31 minutes ago, FishyFish said:

What did all the devices signify in the title sequence? I thought they might be house sigils, but apart from one that looked like the Hand’s pin, one with three interlinked rings (that I didn’t recognise), and the Targaryen dragon sigil, they were somewhat indistinct.

 

Its not as apparent a title sequence as GoT’s.

we had a lot of time to get used to GoT’s, and a convenient map to reference from the books.

[CGB]

Never seen anyone been so annoyed about a title sequence! Who cares? I'm really loving this, it's everything I loved about GoT. Performances are great, I love the pacing and can't wait to see more. 

[FishyFish]

6 minutes ago, footle said:

we had a lot of time to get used to GoT’s, and a convenient map to reference from the books.

GoT’s made immediate sense. It was clearly a map placing the story’s locations on the map of Westeros.

 

HotD’s is much more obtuse. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, and it might begin to make more sense as the series progresses, but I wondered if the little cogs had some specific meaning that I’d missed.

[PeteJ]

All seems familiar but new. Liking the setup, acting and writing seems great...a very solid return so far. 

[Gommy]

Spoiler

Very convenient for them to forget that Matt who is already happily disobeying the crown has a massive dragon.  I can imagine Mitchell and Webb among the ranks talking to each on the way there saying 'should we remind them he has a dragon, no they won't have forgotten that'

 

Is the crab guy meant to be mystical I have just taken it so far as he likes to leave the dying on those crab heavy beaches, rather than him necessarily having super powers.

 

Really don't like Matts wig, makes him look very much like he's a lotr elf, i guess somewhat inescapable sometimes but it really gives him an elven look.

 

First episode- shit the hand is sending his young daughter to 'comfort' the king.

Second episode - thank fuck the king chose her instead of the 12 (did they really say 12 she looked even younger).

 

Overall though I think it's been really enjoyable and yeah I guess it is still very much gotr but so far it seems at decent level gotr and you probably don't make an expensive spinoff to appeal to people who want something a bit different.

Minor ep2 spoilers.

[Mr. Gerbik]

Episode 2 was mire enjoyable, things are starting to happen now that the main players have been introduced. The pace and storytelling is so much better than the last few seasons of MAIN GOT. Don't know if I'll end up enjoying this as much as the first 5 season of the OG, but it's fun so far. I especially like the actor who plays the bad Prince, I forget his name - I just call him Gerolt.

[Steven]

I'm enjoying this  - good telly.

[squirtle]

10 hours ago, Gommy said:

  Hide contents

Very convenient for them to forget that Matt who is already happily disobeying the crown has a massive dragon.  I can imagine Mitchell and Webb among the ranks talking to each on the way there saying 'should we remind them he has a dragon, no they won't have forgotten that'

 

Is the crab guy meant to be mystical I have just taken it so far as he likes to leave the dying on those crab heavy beaches, rather than him necessarily having super powers.

 

Really don't like Matts wig, makes him look very much like he's a lotr elf, i guess somewhat inescapable sometimes but it really gives him an elven look.

 

First episode- shit the hand is sending his young daughter to 'comfort' the king.

Second episode - thank fuck the king chose her instead of the 12 (did they really say 12 she looked even younger).

 

Overall though I think it's been really enjoyable and yeah I guess it is still very much gotr but so far it seems at decent level gotr and you probably don't make an expensive spinoff to appeal to people who want something a bit different.

Minor ep2 spoilers.

To your first point.

 

Spoiler

They knew he wouldn't use it. If he'd toasted that lot, then it would have been an open invitation to the King to come and kill them all. Yes, he has a dragon, but they have more than one - Rhanerys says at the start to send in some Dragon Riders to sort out crabby, so they obviously have enough for them too be referred to as Riders - and he's not stupid enough to initiate that kind of fight.

 

[Padaxes]

I enjoyed the 2nd episode, feels like it could be somehting good if it continues on this trajectory. 🤞

[Capwn]

Enjoyed episode 2 but honestly, I would just drop all the dragons from this show. Most times I'm admiring all the extravagant sets and lighting, then as soon as the dragons appear it looks like I'm watching a straight to video B movie like Sharknado.

[SpagMasterSwift]

For House of the Extravagant Sets and Lighting you may want to watch Grand Designs instead?

[Gotters]

I was moaning about the dragons last night to my other half, same issue I had with GoT.

 

They are big heavy beasts that would require quite some effort to take off, but they seem to have anti-gravy abilities and do a gentle little jump in the air then a small flap of a wing and they shoot up like a Saturn rocket into the air.

 

Now I know there is no place for physics in a made up show with magic and dragons in it but I always find it quite jarring, doesn't matter how good the skin or muscle movement is on them that ease of take off always irritates me.

 

That blokes dreads looking like they were made of white wool was a bit odd looking too. 

[El Spatula]

Why do you never see people go for a pee or a poo on these TV programs eh? Takes me right out of it.

[Gotters]

1 minute ago, El Spatula said:

Why do you never see people go for a pee or a poo on these TV programs eh? Takes me right out of it.

 

Tywin Lannister ?

[Delargey]

1 hour ago, El Spatula said:

Why do you never see people go for a pee or a poo on these TV programs eh? Takes me right out of it.

 

We saw the hound taking a wizz and Tyrion pee'd off the wall.

[Delargey]

Also King Robert taking a leak against a tree.

[Number 28]

Let's face it,

Spoiler

he should've married the kid. Paedogeddon fersure, but House Velaryon being slapped in the face a second time is a properly stupid wheels falling off the car, soot-on-face curveball for Viserys to throw and a plot to usurp him would come as sure as night follows day. I'm not sure of his reasoning for choosing Alicent other than she brought him a new toy dragon after he oopsied the original. It's going to create a huge and awkward wedge with his daughter, then if she gets knocked up with a boy...ruh-roh! It's sad because I want Paddy Considine to be awesome (marrying kids aside) and not die, but as foreshadowed by his necrotic throne injuries, he's clearly a total liability and calamitous fuck up. When Robb fucked up his oath to House Frey it was believable because sexy Talisa showed up, he fell in love, it happens. Viserys doesn't seem attached or enthused about either party. Maybe we'll be given more insight into why.

 

[SpagMasterSwift]

Paddy Considine is terrible casting tbh. 

Spoiler

He's way to awesome to be this clown!

 

[Harsin]

The King Nice But Dim plotline feels like a rehash of Robb Stark’s misadventures.

[George Clooney]

Another “good but not amazing” episode.  One thing I didn’t think they got quite right though

 

Spoiler

They didn’t really sell why he went for Alicent over the 12 year old.  Which is an odd thing to say out of context!  But she (the 12 year old) was clearly the sensible choice for many reasons and it’d be clear that picking Alicent would weaken his position while pissing people off.  The whole incest and young bride, while icky, is obviously accepted within that world, and Alicent there isn’t much older so I don’t buy that it’s an age thing.  While they appeared to have a connection too, it didn’t feel like he was into her enough to piss off the Sea Snake guy.

The cast is growing on me with the exception (oddly) of Rhys Ifans.  I don’t know if his character is just a bit boring, but even when he’s quite clearly supposed to be a scheming arse, he’s just not very interesting when he’s doing it hat least not to me).  He feels very one dimensional at the moment.  
 

It was really nicely shot too, the bridge scene and especially 

Spoiler

The arrival of Rhaenyras dragon, the way the clouds moved prior to coming into shot was such a cool visual

My only slight gripe was it doesn’t feel like a world that’s got people living in it at the moment.  Not sure if that makes sense, or if this will, but it’s like I struggle to place locations in scenes, they don’t feel like they’re connected particularly as part of the world, nor does it feel like there are people just milling around living their lives.

 

Still, it’s still setting things up which are interesting to see how they pay off.

[scottcr]

I think the reason

 

Spoiler

The king has picked Alicent is because she feels something for her, that he could properly love her in a few years … but the telly can’t go into that or it’ll get taken off air and millions of viewers would get the jail

 

[Paulando]

I’m loving this so far.

 

I was late to GoT - watched them all between S6 and S8 airing - and I generally dislike fantasy stuff. But I’m totally sold on this, already invested in the characters and the motives, and the performances are top notch. I love how it isn’t just battles, fights, dragons, and more battles.